scholarly journals Cardenolides, toxicity, and the costs of sequestration in the coevolutionary interaction between monarchs and milkweeds

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (16) ◽  
pp. e2024463118
Author(s):  
Anurag A. Agrawal ◽  
Katalin Böröczky ◽  
Meena Haribal ◽  
Amy P. Hastings ◽  
Ronald A. White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Danaus Plexippus ◽  
Monarch Butterfly ◽  
Chemical Defenses ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Asclepias Curassavica ◽  
Plant Chemical ◽  
Whole Plants ◽  
Benefits And Costs

For highly specialized insect herbivores, plant chemical defenses are often co-opted as cues for oviposition and sequestration. In such interactions, can plants evolve novel defenses, pushing herbivores to trade off benefits of specialization with costs of coping with toxins? We tested how variation in milkweed toxins (cardenolides) impacted monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) growth, sequestration, and oviposition when consuming tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), one of two critical host plants worldwide. The most abundant leaf toxin, highly apolar and thiazolidine ring–containing voruscharin, accounted for 40% of leaf cardenolides, negatively predicted caterpillar growth, and was not sequestered. Using whole plants and purified voruscharin, we show that monarch caterpillars convert voruscharin to calotropin and calactin in vivo, imposing a burden on growth. As shown by in vitro experiments, this conversion is facilitated by temperature and alkaline pH. We next employed toxin-target site experiments with isolated cardenolides and the monarch’s neural Na+/K+-ATPase, revealing that voruscharin is highly inhibitory compared with several standards and sequestered cardenolides. The monarch’s typical >50-fold enhanced resistance to cardenolides compared with sensitive animals was absent for voruscharin, suggesting highly specific plant defense. Finally, oviposition was greatest on intermediate cardenolide plants, supporting the notion of a trade-off between benefits and costs of sequestration for this highly specialized herbivore. There is apparently ample opportunity for continued coevolution between monarchs and milkweeds, although the diffuse nature of the interaction, due to migration and interaction with multiple milkweeds, may limit the ability of monarchs to counteradapt.

scholarly journals Biological control of strawberry crown rot, root rot and grey mould by the beneficial fungus Aureobasidium pullulans

BioControl ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mudassir Iqbal ◽  
Maha Jamshaid ◽  
Muhammad Awais Zahid ◽  
Erik Andreasson ◽  
Ramesh R. Vetukuri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Aureobasidium Pullulans ◽  
Grey Mould ◽  
Lesion Size ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Whole Plants

AbstractUtilization of biocontrol agents is a sustainable approach to reduce plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens. In the present study, we tested the effect of the candidate biocontrol fungus Aureobasidium pullulans (De Bary) G. Armaud on strawberry under in vitro and in vivo conditions to control crown rot, root rot and grey mould caused by Phytophthora cactorum (Lebert and Cohn) and Botrytis cinerea Pers, respectively. A dual plate confrontation assay showed that mycelial growth of P. cactorum and B. cinerea was reduced by 33–48% when challenged by A. pullulans as compared with control treatments. Likewise, detached leaf and fruit assays showed that A. pullulans significantly reduced necrotic lesion size on leaves and disease severity on fruits caused by P. cactorum and B. cinerea. In addition, greenhouse experiments with whole plants revealed enhanced biocontrol efficacy against root rot and grey mould when treated with A. pullulans either in combination with the pathogen or pre-treated with A. pullulans followed by inoculation of the pathogens. Our results demonstrate that A. pullulans is an effective biocontrol agent to control strawberry diseases caused by fungal pathogens and can be an effective alternative to chemical-based fungicides.

scholarly journals In vivo and in vitro studies on heavy metal tolerance in Sesbania grandiflora L

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-64
Author(s):  
Kadhim M. Ibrahim ◽  
Shaimaa A. Yousir
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Metal Tolerance ◽  
Heavy Metal Tolerance ◽  
Heavy Metal Concentration ◽  
Callus Cultures ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
Whole Plants

Several experiments were carried out to study heavy metal tolerance in tissue cultures or whole plants of S. grandiflora., Callus was induced and maintained on modified Murashige and Skoog, 1962 medium (MS) supplemented with (0.5)mg/l benzyl adenine and (2)mg/l 2,4-phenoxy acetic acid . Heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Cr or Zn) were added to the culture medium at different concentrations as contamination agents. In order to asses the effect of these heavy metals on seed germination; seeds were sown in soil contaminated with different concentrations of heavy metals for 3 weeks. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used for analysis of samples taken from whole plants and callus cultures. Results showed that callus fresh weight decreased with increasing heavy metal concentration in cultural medium. Germination percentages and plant heights increased over time. However, a reduction occurred in these parameters with increasing heavy metal levels. Percentages of metals accumulated in calli were (0.001, 0.011, 0.012 and 0.013%) at (0.0, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1)mg/l Cd respectively; (0.001, 0.008, 0.016 and 0.006%) at (0.0, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5)mg/l Co respectively; (0.001, 0.020, 0.034 and 0.015%) at (0.0, 0.075, 0.2 and 0.5)mg/l Cu respectively; (0.001, 0.013, 0.012 and 0.010%) at (0.0, 0.25, 0.4 and 0.5)mg/l Cr respectively and (0.027, 0.051, 0.059 and 0.056%) at (0.0 , 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5)mg/l Zn respectively. Percentages of metals accumulated in whole plants were (0.08, 0.55, 1.11, 0.83 and 0.44%) at (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0)mg/Kg soil Cd respectively; (0.11, 0.22, 0.55, 0.47 and 0.44%) at (0.0, 15.0, 30.0 45.0 and 60.0)mg/Kg soil Co respectively; (0.01, 0.10, 0.57, 0.58 and 0.72%) at (0.0, 25.0, 50.0, 75.0 and 100.0)mg/Kg soil Cu respectively. (0.08, 0.80, 1.28, 1.31 and 0.88%) at (0.0, 25.0, 50.0, 75.0 and 100.0)mg/Kg soil Cr respectively and (0.06, 1.11, 1.20, 1.83 and 2.22%) at (0.0, 100.0, 200.0, 300.0 and 400.0)mg/Kg soil Zn respectively.

scholarly journals Prosopis Plant Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Attributes: Targeting Clinical Studies from Preclinical Evidence

Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Sharifi-Rad ◽  
Farzad Kobarfard ◽  
Athar Ata ◽  
Seyed Abdulmajid Ayatollahi ◽  
Nafiseh Khosravi-Dehaghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Food Supplement ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Plant Chemical ◽  
Food Applications

Members of the Prosopis genus are native to America, Africa and Asia, and have long been used in traditional medicine. The Prosopis species most commonly used for medicinal purposes are P. africana, P. alba, P. cineraria, P. farcta, P. glandulosa, P. juliflora, P. nigra, P. ruscifolia and P. spicigera, which are highly effective in asthma, birth/postpartum pains, callouses, conjunctivitis, diabetes, diarrhea, expectorant, fever, flu, lactation, liver infection, malaria, otitis, pains, pediculosis, rheumatism, scabies, skin inflammations, spasm, stomach ache, bladder and pancreas stone removal. Flour, syrup, and beverages from Prosopis pods have also been potentially used for foods and food supplement formulation in many regions of the world. In addition, various in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed interesting antiplasmodial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic and wound healing effects. The phytochemical composition of Prosopis plants, namely their content of C-glycosyl flavones (such as schaftoside, isoschaftoside, vicenin II, vitexin and isovitexin) has been increasingly correlated with the observed biological effects. Thus, given the literature reports, Prosopis plants have positive impact on the human diet and general health. In this sense, the present review provides an in-depth overview of the literature data regarding Prosopis plants’ chemical composition, pharmacological and food applications, covering from pre-clinical data to upcoming clinical studies.

scholarly journals Phage steering of antibiotic-resistance evolution in the bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Gurney ◽  
Léa Pradier ◽  
Joanne S Griffin ◽  
Claire Gougat-Barbera ◽  
Benjamin K Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Antibiotic Sensitivity ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Phage Resistance ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Trade Off

Abstract Background and objectives Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global concern and has spurred increasing efforts to find alternative therapeutics. Bacteriophage therapy has seen near constant use in Eastern Europe since its discovery over a century ago. One promising approach is to use phages that not only reduce bacterial pathogen loads but also select for phage resistance mechanisms that trade-off with antibiotic resistance—so called ‘phage steering’. Methodology Recent work has shown that the phage OMKO1 can interact with efflux pumps and in so doing select for both phage resistance and antibiotic sensitivity of the pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We tested the robustness of this approach to three different antibiotics in vitro (tetracycline, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin) and one in vivo (erythromycin). Results We show that in vitro OMKO1 can reduce antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa (Washington PAO1) even in the presence of antibiotics, an effect still detectable after ca.70 bacterial generations in continuous culture with phage. Our in vivo experiment showed that phage both increased the survival times of wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella) and increased bacterial sensitivity to erythromycin. This increased antibiotic sensitivity occurred both in lines with and without the antibiotic. Conclusions and implications Our study supports a trade-off between antibiotic resistance and phage sensitivity. This trade-off was maintained over co-evolutionary time scales even under combined phage and antibiotic pressure. Similarly, OMKO1 maintained this trade-off in vivo, again under dual phage/antibiotic pressure. Our findings have implications for the future clinical use of steering in phage therapies. Lay Summary: Given the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, new approaches to treatment are urgently needed. Bacteriophages (phages) are bacterial viruses. The use of such viruses to treat infections has been in near-continuous use in several countries since the early 1900s. Recent developments have shown that these viruses are not only effective against routine infections but can also target antibiotic resistant bacteria in a novel, unexpected way. Similar to other lytic phages, these so-called ‘steering phages’ kill the majority of bacteria directly. However, steering phages also leave behind bacterial variants that resist the phages, but are now sensitive to antibiotics. Treatment combinations of these phages and antibiotics can now be used to greater effect than either one independently. We evaluated the impact of steering using phage OMKO1 and a panel of three antibiotics on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important pathogen in hospital settings and in people with cystic fibrosis. Our findings indicate that OMKO1, either alone or in combination with antibiotics, maintains antibiotic sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo, giving hope that phage steering will be an effective treatment option against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

scholarly journals Differential gene expression reflects larval development and survival of monarch butterflies on different milkweed hosts

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo M. Gonzalez-De-la-Rosa ◽  
Mariana Ramirez Loustalot-Laclette ◽  
Cei Abreu-Goodger ◽  
Therese Ann Markow
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Larval Development ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Danaus Plexippus ◽  
Monarch Butterfly ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Asclepias Curassavica ◽  
Important Regulator ◽  
Differential Gene

ABSTRACTSecond instar larvae of the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, from a nonmigratory population in Irapuato, Mexico, were reared for twenty-four hours on three species of milkweed hosts: Asclepias curassavica, A. linaria, and Gomphocarpus physocarpus. We then measured larval growth and differential expression of coding genes and of microRNAs. Larval growth was similar on the two Asclepias species, while little growth was observed on G. physocarpus. The greatest differences in coding gene expression occurred in genes controlling growth and detoxification and were most extreme in comparisons between G. physocarpus and the two Asclepias. MicroRNAs are predicted to be involved as regulators of many of these processes, in particular miR-278, differentially expressed here, could be an important regulator of growth through Hippo signaling. The implications for survival of the monarch, especially in the context of environmental factors altering the availability of their favored milkweed species, are discussed.

scholarly journals The Effect of Bialaphos on Ammonium-Assimilation and Photosynthesis I. Effect on the Enzymes of Ammonium-Assimilation

1989 ◽  
Vol 44 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aloysius Wild ◽  
Christine Ziegler
Keyword(s):  
Glutamine Synthetase ◽  
Glutamate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Ammonium Assimilation ◽  
Inhibiting Effect ◽  
Whole Plants ◽  
Leaf Homogenate

Abstract In this investigation, the effect of bialaphos (phosphinothricyl-alanyl-alanine) on the enzymes involved in NH4+-assimilation - glutamine synthetase, glutamine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase - is examined and compared to the effect of phosphinothricin (glufosinate) on the same enzymes. Bialaphos was given to whole plants (in vivo) and to leaf homogenate (in vitro). The investigation showed that bialaphos has an inhibiting effect on glutamine synthetase in vivo, but not in vitro. In contrast to this, phosphinothricin inhibits glutamine synthetase in vitro as well as in vivo. It was found that bialaphos, similar to phosphinothricin, does not inhibit glutamine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase in vivo or in vitro. Only at bialaphos concentrations exceeding 10 mM, there is an inhibition of glutamate dehydrogenase in vitro. Using radioactive [3H]bialaphos (phosphinothricyl-3H-alanyl-alanine) it could be demonstrated that in the plant, bialaphos is split into phosphinothricin and alanine. The phosphinothricin released is probably the active herbicide component. Consequently, the herbicidal effects of phosphinothricin and bialaphos are the same.

scholarly journals Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) and Its Main Compounds

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasool Nasiri Kalmarzi ◽  
Seyyed Nima Naleini ◽  
Damoon Ashtary-Larky ◽  
Ilaria Peluso ◽  
Leila Jouybari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Cell Immune Response ◽  
Immunomodulatory Effects ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Berberis Vulgaris ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Whole Plants

Berberis vulgaris is a well-known herb in Iran that is widely used as a medicinal plant and a food additive. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of Barberry and its main compounds. This narrative review was conducted by searching keywords such as B. vulgaris, Barberry, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, medicinal herbs, plants, and extract, separately or combined in various databases, such as Web of Sciences, PubMed, and Scopus. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, just English language articles, which reported effective whole plants or herbal compounds, were included. 21 articles were reviewed in this study. In the in vivo models (mice, rats, and human cells) and in the in vitro models (some organ cells such as the spleen, kidney, blood, and brain), B. vulgaris and its main components showed anti-inflammatory effects in both models. The main mechanisms were the shift of cell immune response to Th2, T reg induction, inhibition of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF, and IFN-γ), and stimulation of IL-4 and IL-10. The induction of apoptosis in APCs and other effector cells was another important mechanism.

FEEDING VALUE FOR BEEF STEERS OF CORN SILAGE AS AFFECTED BY HARVEST DATES AND FROST

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. W. CALDER ◽  
J. E. LANGILLE ◽  
J. W. G. NICHOLSON
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Feed Consumption ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Whole Plants

An experiment was conducted in 3 consecutive yr with corn grown each year on a field from which silage was made of corn harvested at different dates before and after freezing. Yields of green and dry weight were recorded at each harvest. Individual whole plants and plant parts were evaluated for dry matter (DM), total nitrogen, total available carbohydrates and in vitro digestibility of DM. Animal gains, feed consumption and carcass grades were determined by feeding the silages to yearling Hereford steers and DM digestibility determined with sheep. The total yield and contribution of the ear increased from the first to the second harvesting date. The in vivo digestibility of DM of the silages declined between the second and final harvests in all years as did animal gain in years 1 and 3. The in vitro digestibility appeared to underestimate the effect of frost on the in vivo digestibility of silage made with corn. When the silages were fed to steers, they consumed more dry matter per day from that harvested on the intermediate date than from either the early or late date. Higher carcass grades occurred when the steers were fed corn harvested at the intermediate dates. The results of these experiments show clearly that corn which has been heavily frozen will loose dry matter and feeding value if left standing in the field for a period of time; however, corn harvested soon after freezing is not as seriously affected.

scholarly journals Vertebrate-like CRYPTOCHROME 2 from monarch regulates circadian transcription via independent repression of CLOCK and BMAL1 activity

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (36) ◽  
pp. E7516-E7525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Matthew J. Markert ◽  
Shayna C. Groves ◽  
Paul E. Hardin ◽  
Christine Merlin
Keyword(s):  
Danaus Plexippus ◽  
Monarch Butterfly ◽  
Constant Darkness ◽  
Transactivation Domain ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Independent Mechanism ◽  
Reporter Assays ◽  
Cryptochrome 2 ◽  
Α Helix

Circadian repression of CLOCK-BMAL1 by PERIOD and CRYPTOCHROME (CRY) in mammals lies at the core of the circadian timekeeping mechanism. CRY repression of CLOCK-BMAL1 and regulation of circadian period are proposed to rely primarily on competition for binding with coactivators on an α-helix located within the transactivation domain (TAD) of the BMAL1 C terminus. This model has, however, not been tested in vivo. Here, we applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), which possesses a vertebrate-like CRY (dpCRY2) and an ortholog of BMAL1, to show that insect CRY2 regulates circadian repression through TAD α-helix–dependent and –independent mechanisms. Monarch mutants lacking the BMAL1 C terminus including the TAD exhibited arrhythmic eclosion behavior. In contrast, mutants lacking the TAD α-helix but retaining the most distal C-terminal residues exhibited robust rhythms during the first day of constant darkness (DD1), albeit with a delayed peak of eclosion. Phase delay in this mutant on DD1 was exacerbated in the presence of a single functional allele of dpCry2, and rhythmicity was abolished in the absence of dpCRY2. Reporter assays in Drosophila S2 cells further revealed that dpCRY2 represses through two distinct mechanisms: a TAD-dependent mechanism that involves the dpBMAL1 TAD α-helix and dpCLK W328 and a TAD-independent mechanism involving dpCLK E333. Together, our results provide evidence for independent mechanisms of vertebrate-like CRY circadian regulation on the BMAL1 C terminus and the CLK PAS-B domain and demonstrate the importance of a BMAL1 TAD-independent mechanism for generating circadian rhythms in vivo.

scholarly journals Ethnomedicinal Evaluation of Medicinal Plants Used against Gastrointestinal Complaints

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akash Tariq ◽  
Sakina Mussarat ◽  
Muhammad Adnan ◽  
E. F. Abd_Allah ◽  
Abeer Hashem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Young Generation ◽  
Gastrointestinal Infections ◽  
Ethnomedicinal Plants ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Informant Consensus ◽  
Gastrointestinal Complaints ◽  
Whole Plants

Aim of the present study was to document ethnomedicinal plants used against gastrointestinal complaints in five selected remote regions of Pakistan and to select potential medicinal plants for furtherin vitroandin vivoinvestigation. Data on ethnomedicinal plants and ethnographic profile of respondents was documented using semistructured questionnaires. The present study revealed utilization of 52 medicinal plants for the treatment of different gastrointestinal infections in studied regions. Apiaceae was the most dominant family reported to be used for the treatment of these infections (4 plants). Among all the plant parts fruit (24%), whole plants and leaves (23% each) were the most preferred plant parts used by the healers. Dosage of recipe was found to be related with the age of the patient. Highest degree of informant consensus was reported for vomiting, nausea (0.92 each), abdominal pain (0.9), and diarrhea (0.89).Withania coagulansscored highest FL value (86%) followed byMentha longifoliaandMelia azadirachtaranked second with FL value (75% each). Young generation was found to possess little traditional knowledge about utilizing plant recipes against these infections. Plants with high Fic and FL values should be subjected for further phytochemical and pharmacological investigation for scientific validation.

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